'I have read the greater part of the History of James I and Mrs. Montagues?s essay on Shakespeare, and a great deal of Gibbon'.
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Thomas Babington Macaulay Print: Book
'I think Mrs Montague [sic] has fully vindicated Shakespeare from the objections of Voltaire [...] Her three dialogues of the dead at the end of her essay, are I think very good ones.'
Century: 1800-1849 Reader/Listener/Group: Joseph Hunter Print: Book
'Mrs. Montague, a lady distinguished for having written an Essay on Shakspeare [sic], being mentioned:—Reynolds. "I think that essay does her honour." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; it does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour. I have, indeed, not read it all. But when I take up the end of a web, and find it packthread. I do not expect, by looking further, to find embroidery. Sir, I will venture to say, there is not one sentence of true criticism in her book." Garrick. "But, Sir, surely it shews how much Voltaire has mistaken Shakspeare, which nobody else has done." Johnson. "Sir, nobody else has thought it worth while. And what merit is there in that ? You may as well praise a schoolmaster for whipping a boy who has construed ill".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Samuel Johnson Print: Unknown
'Mrs. Montague, a lady distinguished for having written an Essay on Shakspeare [sic], being mentioned:—Reynolds. "I think that essay does her honour." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; it does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour. I have, indeed, not read it all. But when I take up the end of a web, and find it packthread. I do not expect, by looking further, to find embroidery. Sir, I will venture to say, there is not one sentence of true criticism in her book." Garrick. "But, Sir, surely it shews how much Voltaire has mistaken Shakspeare, which nobody else has done." Johnson. "Sir, nobody else has thought it worth while. And what merit is there in that ? You may as well praise a schoolmaster for whipping a boy who has construed ill".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: Joshua Reynolds Print: Unknown
'Mrs. Montague, a lady distinguished for having written an Essay on Shakspeare [sic], being mentioned:—Reynolds. "I think that essay does her honour." Johnson. "Yes, Sir; it does her honour, but it would do nobody else honour. I have, indeed, not read it all. But when I take up the end of a web, and find it packthread. I do not expect, by looking further, to find embroidery. Sir, I will venture to say, there is not one sentence of true criticism in her book." Garrick. "But, Sir, surely it shews how much Voltaire has mistaken Shakspeare, which nobody else has done." Johnson. "Sir, nobody else has thought it worth while. And what merit is there in that ? You may as well praise a schoolmaster for whipping a boy who has construed ill".'
Century: 1700-1799 Reader/Listener/Group: David Garrick Print: Unknown